Apparatus for generating electricity by solar heat



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4N0 Model.) 2*SheetsSheet 1.

M. L. SEVBRY. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY BY SOLAR HEAT.

No. 527,379. Patented Oct; 9, 1894.

4- [n S 3 I A (No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

M. L. SEVERY. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY BY soLAE EEAT.

No. 527,379. Patented Oct. 9, 1894.

\/\/iTr E'55E5- ln gqrmc UNIT D "STATES PATENT 'OFFICE.

MELvm'L. sEvEnr, or BOSTON, AssteNoR on oNE-tIALr .ro- FRANCIS DOANE,

. OF NOBWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS;

AlPAliATUS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY BYYQSO-LAR H E'AT.'

SPECIFICATION-forming m of Letters Patent No. 527,379, datdOctober 9; 1894'.

Applicatlon filedI'eb -uary 16.18%. sestlrasoo'ss'z. (roman Be it known that I, MELVIN L. SEVERY,a

citizenof the United States, residing in Boston, in the county of Sufiolk, and State of Mas sachusetts, have invented certain newand ,useful lmprovements in Apparatus for Generatlng'Electricity by Solar Heat, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

ro The object of this invention isthe utilization of the suns heat for the production of electricity as a sourcerof heat, light and power, and to this end the invention consists, first, in the combination, substantially as hereinafter more fully s& forth,'with a thermoelectric pile, ofmeans for directing the heat of the sun upon the face of the pile; second, in the combination, substantially as herein: after more fully set forth, with a thermoelectric pile, of means for-directing the heat of the: sun upon the face of the pile;'an electric motor operated by part of the current thus generated; a pump or other device operated by said electric motor; means for sup- 2 5 plying water or other cooling agent to cool'the back of the pile, and a storage battery charged by part of the electricity generated by the pile; third, of a thermo-pile constructed substantially as hereinafter morefully set forth, o composed of thin plates of dissimilar metals or alloys, whereby I am enabled toutilize in the production or electricity a greater num ber of the thermal units contained in the source of heat than in piles heretofore made;

a distinctive feature otmy invention being the employment in each pair of an element having a large superficial exposure and cross section and having an extremely low electrical resistance due to this largesection and .40 its extreme shortness in the direction of the -flow of the current. Instead'of taking the thermal unitsin high temperature and over small area, (which has necessitated long or thick elements of great resistance, for reasons easily obvious-)1 take them at a low temperature and ever a large area, which on ables .me to obtain the. extremely low resistance already cited, and, furtherrriore'this;

construction permits of a new and valuable use of thermo-piles, viz., as a means for utiltherays of thesun.

In the accompanying drawings, mechanism is shown .by means of which my lIlVGil: 7

.tion may be carried into eliect.

Figure 1 is a plan viewof the thermo-pile, Fig; 2 is a sectional view of the same on the line X X, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a-n isometric view of one of the elements. Fig.4 is a view in elevation of the thermo-electric pile, av means for directing the heat of the sun upon the face of the same, and mechanism for moving this directing device in accordahce with the I apparent diurnal movement of the sun and the varying altitude of itspath during its apparent annual movement, and means for supplying water to cool the back of the pile, all combined'in one machlne or apparatus, which is a convenient means for utilizing my invention. .Fig. 5 is adiagrammatic view of the electric motor, -the,pump and storage battery, with the several. connections between these devices. Fig. 6 is adetail view show- .ing a part of' the rack'bar and; the pinion gearing with the same. I

In the drawings like numerals and letters refer to like. parts.

In the invention described in this application, I have shown planerefiectors for direct:

- ing the heatof the sun upon the faceof the pile, but in most cases Ishall be able,,by preventing radiation and convection, to obtain sufficient heat by the direct'action of the suns.

rays without any concentrationof the same.

- .I will first describe the construction of the thermo-pile which 1 use inthis apparatus.

It iswell known that the current of electricity which is obtained from a: thermo-pile results from adilference in temperature be-' I posing the pile is exposed to the heat produced by. a flame or furnace, while the other end is cooled by exposure to the air;

In the pile described in this application, the heat is diffused over an extended area, and the difierence in the temperature of the hot and cold poles is .relatively less, and con- 'sequently these poles may be near to one another, thereby greatly diminishing the nternal resistance of the pile, and enabling a greater amount of electricityto be utilized in electrical work externally to thewpile itself than in piles as heretofore'constructed. Y Add to this the large superficial area and conse qncnt greatness of cross section, and, since cross section and length are the factors of re 7 5 sist'ance in any given substance, the advantage of this form will be apparent. In the r 5 at right angles near-its center in two places in opposite directions, so that twosnrfaces are formed lying inparallel planes, each end and the sides of the plates being provided withllangeaas shown in thedrawing's. In

this plate are perforations'2-"-,- those inone half of the plate being beveled in opposite. directions tothose in weather half. ,Th'ese s plates are arranged end to end and overlap reach other, asshownin Fig. 2. Into the space formed by these overlapping plates 'ispoureds or otherwise inserted some metal dissimilar to themetal composing the plates, so that an intimate contact is'formed between thetwo metals. Thesesuperimposed plates are in sulated from! each other as shown at 3, and are bound together by means, of insulated bolts -5-- and'. transverse plates of insular tion --4-.' The drawings show two entire plates and onehalf of each of two other plates, they may be of any desired length. A'series of these, composite plates or bars'is then placed side by side-and insulated from each other as shownat 6; The 'pile thus formed can then be connected as desired, either. in series or in multiple arc. I p H The back of the pile is covered witha plate of insulating material, and behind thisisa plate of metal Q-- which is; separated from the insulation, whereby a space 8. is formed for thelcirculation of water 'or other coolerfor cooling the" back of the pile. I prefor to cover the fronttof the pile with oneor more plates -7- of some; material whichis transparent to direct solar rays, but opaque to dark radiated heat. x x ,I' have described this device as anew form of thermopile whichI prefer to use with this apparatda'jorthereason that it has'a greater efiiciency than any other form' known, but I can use any other form of pile for carrying my invention into effect. This pile is placed in any suitable case -10 which may be mounted in any suitablemanner, and in the accompanying drawings Lhave shown several, ways of mounting saidcase. p r

In Fig. 4 the case 10 is'pivoted atone end in a vertical position upon astandard 24=' upon a suitable turn-table '26- whichturm table is supported byrollers upon a suitable base plate -28-. Affram'e for supporting reflectors is attached to the front of the case. 1

but any-number of plates may be used, and

This frame is four-sided, and each of its sides -a-.- forms al'r'oblique angle with the plane of the front of the pile. In these sides may be placed detachable reflectors -22 by means of wh-ichthe suns rays may be re flected upon the face of the pile. Thus, by the simultaneous applicationof numerous rays of heat reflected upon thesame plaee','it

receives a greater degree of heat than it would receive from unreflected rays falling directly upon it. Each ofthe sides is movable upon a pivot '-c-- on the case, so that the angle of Y I reflection maybe varied as desired, and is detachable for those cases where the direct I rays are suflicienhJ In order to effect this ad :justmenua'rod d+ is attached at one end to the inside of each of, the sides, and atthe' other end screws into, a turn-buckle -e By turning this turnbuckle the inclination of the sides may be varied aisdesired. a The object of supporting theipile upona turntable is' to enablevitto be movedvin a" horizontal plane: The object of supporting therpi'le upon a'vertical standard, is to enable itto -be moved in a vertical plane; By' the combination oi; these two movements, the I faceofthepil'ecan be maintained opposite to the sun at all times of the day and at all seasons of theyear. It is not absolutelynecessary, however, to mount the pile so as to give it the various movements above described ifor' it maybe placed in a' fixed position so astc receive the rays of the rising and setting sun at anlangle and the full effects of the neon sun. Arranged intliis way, the pile will not be as eflicient as if mounted as herei'nbefore described, but it may answer for somepurposes. I

The device here shown is simple and convenient. It'issho-wn as operated by hand, but it may alsobe operated, byautomatic mechanism'; if desired. 7 I, p p .rThe movement in a vertical plane of the 'pile and the device for directing the rays of the sun upon it is .eifected by the engage- 'ment ofa pinion -22 oh ahor-izontal shaft 22" fixed to the upper corner of the case, with an inclined rack bar -'-23 attached at its lowerend itoa standard 25 on the turn-table? This pinion is rotated vfrom the corner of the case containing the pile, by

means of a bevel 'gear 18-.- loose'upon the pivot 'upon which the pile 'turns,"and' sup-' ported so as to turn in-thecenter, and a rod 20- havingat eachend bevel gears '21 one of which engages-with the bevel gear 18' and the-other with thebevel gear '22. The

[wheel 18 is turned by the crank l9. The electric current which is produced by a thermo-pile is due to the difierence in temperature between the outer faces of the plates or bars'forming the elements. Itjs therefore desirableto keep the rear ends of the'b'ars as cool as possible; I eflect this result by the circulation of water, air or other cooler in the open space between the rear plates or bars. and the back of the case. A convenient method of accomplishing this result is by means of pipes .12 and 13Y one of which is connected to the top of the case and the other at the side. The pipes '17 and 16' are two concentric hollow shafts to' which these pipes 12' and 13 are respectively connected by flexible' pipes 14 and 15 The turn-table 26 turnson the outer shaft 16. FlGXiblQCOlldescribed.

2.. In a thermo-pilc, the combination of a;.7

terial placed between said plates, 70

nectio'nsare used. on account ofthe moveto ment in a vertical plane which is given to the'pileand the heatreflecting devicesi The water circulating in-the case for coolingtheends of the bars may be supplied by a plate ,of cast iron or other suitable material bent at two points to form t'wo parts lying in difier'e'nt planes, asimilarplate having its upper end superimposed above the lower end of the first-mentioned plate,afilling of some ma 80 1 also be quite extensive,

. 'I claim,,an d desire to secure by Letters Patpump, and this pump or. other device for supplying water u'nderpressu re may be operated by any suitable power, but I prefer to operate it-by means of a motor operated by a part of the current. generated by the pile. The remainder of the current may be used directly, or it may be stored in a storage battery. Itis obvious that the water used for cooling the pile maybe drawn by suction as well as forced through the cool ends of the pile, and thus, in pumping water forirrigation, 'a'refrigeratin'g medium may be obtained without deviating. the water fromjother uses. Any formof pump, any form of motor and any form of storage'battery may be used. It is therefore unnecessary to further describe them." i If p In Fig. 5, 32 is the motor;- 33, a belt; 34, a wheel connected to'the' shaft of the motor by the beltand connected ,to the pump 35- by a crank. '38 is the storage battery; 30 and 31 are wires to the motor and '10 and '11 are ,wires frdmthethermo-pile. a

j The pump which isoperated by the motor may be used'for irrigationor for other purposes, as the water which flows through the pilejs not lost.

The area of the surface upon which it is possible to concentrate the heat of the sun is only limited by'the size of the reflecting surfaces. The area of the face of the pile mayamount of electricity may be produced. I The'rmo-electiic-piles have not been found economical heretofore,-'as sources of electricity,\ but inasmuch as thesuns heat costs;

nothing, the cost'of producing electricity can he mobe greatly red deed, and the use of the electric pile made profitable.

Thefinsulation at th'e back of the pile ma be composed of some'material which will absorb the heat from the pile, and this insula- -tion may then be cooled by the refrigerating s.

' ance' with the apparent annual and d urnal movements of the sun; a. space between the medium drawn through the space 8. is

' Havingthus describedimyinventidn, what ent' -of the United States, is- 7 1. In a thermo-pile, the combination of a plate of cast iron or'other suitable material bent in two places, whereby two parts are formed on d'ifierent planes; a similar plate having ,its upper end superimposed above the lower end of the. first mentioned plate; a

filling'ofsome metal which is dissimilar to and therefore a large parent diurnal and annual movements of the terial which is dissimilar to' that of the bent. plates, and insulating'mat'erial between the plates, substantially as described.

3. A'thermo-pile composed of two plates or layers of dissimilar metals intimately in contact with each other divided into insulatedv 'segments of pairs and the segments connected electrically and so that they will lie -in substantially the same plane, as set forth.

4. The combinatiom,substantially as described, of a thermo-elec'tric pile; means for directing the rays of thesun upon the face of the'pile, and means for moving said pile andheat directing device in accordance with the apparent diurnal and annual movements of the sun, whereby-the face of the pile is constantly maintained opposite the sun.

5. The. combination, substantially as described, of a thermo electric pile, an electric motor operated by said pile, a pump operated by said motor, and'means for conveying acooling. agent from the pump tothe back of the pile.

.6. The combination, substantially asdescribed, of a case containing a thermo-electrio pile, in which theside oppositethe'front face of the pile'is composed of glass or of some othermaterial-which is transparent to 5 the rays of the sun, but opaque todark radi ated heat; a space between this-front of the case and the front 'of the pile, and means for moving the case in accordance with the apsun, whereby the face of the pile is constantly maintained opposite to the sun.

scribed, of a thermo-electric pile; a case containing the same having its side'opposite the face of the pile composed of some material which is transparent to the 'rays of the sun but opaque to dark radiated heat; a space between said front wall and the faceof the pile; mechanism for 'moving said pile in accordback wall of the case and the back of the pile; two .pipes communicating at one end with this space and at the other with asource of waterunder'pressure, wherebya current of Water is caused to How through said last mentioned space.

I 7. The combination, substantially as deupon a suitable support; a standard upon said turn-table supporting, the device which turningsaid wheel arod carrying at one end a beveled gear at right angles tothe rod and gearing with the beveled gear on. the stand} ard, and at the other end abeveled gear gearing with a beveled gearvertically supported upon a shaft; a pinion on this shaft, and an. inclined rack gearing with this pinion and pivoted at one end to the turn-table opposite ,r'the standard supporting thevbeveled gear'. Y

9. The combination of a case; a rotating tum-table supporting the same; two concentric hollow shafts, on the outer one of which the turn-table rotates, and the pipes 'connected to the case, and ,eachco'nnected re- 20 spectively to one of "the hollow shafts, and

flexible connections between these pipes'an'd the hollow shafts.

' 10. The combination, substantially asde scribed, of acase containing a device to be heated bjthe rays of thesun; a four-sided frame having its. sides set at oblique angles to, the front face of the case and pivoted to the case; reflectors in the sides of this frame, and means for varying. the angle of inclination of the sides of the frame. 11'. A thermo-electric pile operated by solar rays and means for constantly presenting the parts thereof to be heated toward the sun from sunrise to sunset at all seasons, substantially as shownand described.

12. The combination, with a thermopile, of means for directing the rays of the sun upon one face of said .pile, and means for preventing radiationcof heat from said face, snbstan-. .tially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto'sub- MELVIN L. SEVERY.

Witnesses:- K

GHAs. A. KELLOGG, ARTHUR G. Mopeds.-

scribed my name this 9th day of February, A. 1 

